City wins grant to extend walking, bike trail to Berkeley Park

$1.2M in federal and state funds to extend Oklawaha Greenway from Patton Park

Published: Friday, September 20, 2013 at 9:10 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, September 20, 2013 at 9:10 a.m.

The city of Hendersonville has been awarded a $1.2 million grant to extend the Oklawaha Greenway from Patton Park on Asheville Highway to Berkeley Mills Park on Balfour Road, according to a news release Friday from city officials.

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Grant, administered by the N.C. Department of Transportation, uses federal and state funds to support bicycle and pedestrian improvement projects.

The funds will be used to construct phase three of the Oklawaha Greenway, ultimately connecting Berkeley Mills Park to a trail thread that now weaves into Patton and Jackson parks.

Mayor Barbara Volk frequently walks the section from Patton Park to Seventh Avenue, which follows Mud Creek and is full of trail-goers on a regular basis. She suspects, like herself, that users will be “delighted to have another 1.7 miles” to travel.

“I was delighted to hear that we have gotten our final approval” for the grant, she added.

Phase three will consist of the installation of 1.7 miles of greenway along Mud Creek from the end of phase two at Patton Park to Berkeley Mills Park. With the completion of the third phase, the Oklawaha Greenway will be 3.6 miles in length, providing the community with a linear park to walk, stroll, run, bike, inline/roller skate and enjoy the outdoors.

The Oklawaha Greenway currently connects Jackson and Patton parks. Once at Berkeley Mills Park, the greenway will be connected to the proposed trail system within Berkeley Mills Park. The project is scheduled to be completed by June 2015.

Mayor Pro-tem Jeff Collis suspects the extended trail will be a big hit in the region after hearing from Greenville, S.C. citizens who are excited to bring their bikes and venture beyond the Swamp Rabbit trail in their hometown.

Extending the Oklawaha, he said, was a top priority for connecting the three parks, and getting the grant to do it was icing on the cake. “It’s nice to not lose those funds to the east,” he said.

Councilman Ron Stephens agreed. He thinks the grant for the trail was “wonderful.. and it’s an example of why I am opposed to spending $6 million on the park” through bonds. He added that more grants may be out there to do what the city hopes to do at Berkeley Park, which he said can be revitalized “over a period of time without having to go into debt.”

Councilman Steve Caraker agreed the city may be able to find more grants to help renovate the park.

“I’m personally not in favor of the bond issue... I don’t think we should incur more debt,” he said.

<p>The city of Hendersonville has been awarded a $1.2 million grant to extend the Oklawaha Greenway from Patton Park on Asheville Highway to Berkeley Mills Park on Balfour Road, according to a news release Friday from city officials. </p><p>The Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Grant, administered by the N.C. Department of Transportation, uses federal and state funds to support bicycle and pedestrian improvement projects.</p><p>The funds will be used to construct phase three of the Oklawaha Greenway, ultimately connecting Berkeley Mills Park to a trail thread that now weaves into Patton and Jackson parks.</p><p>Mayor Barbara Volk frequently walks the section from Patton Park to Seventh Avenue, which follows Mud Creek and is full of trail-goers on a regular basis. She suspects, like herself, that users will be “delighted to have another 1.7 miles” to travel.</p><p>“I was delighted to hear that we have gotten our final approval” for the grant, she added. </p><p>Phase three will consist of the installation of 1.7 miles of greenway along Mud Creek from the end of phase two at Patton Park to Berkeley Mills Park. With the completion of the third phase, the Oklawaha Greenway will be 3.6 miles in length, providing the community with a linear park to walk, stroll, run, bike, inline/roller skate and enjoy the outdoors. </p><p>The Oklawaha Greenway currently connects Jackson and Patton parks. Once at Berkeley Mills Park, the greenway will be connected to the proposed trail system within Berkeley Mills Park. The project is scheduled to be completed by June 2015.</p><p>Mayor Pro-tem Jeff Collis suspects the extended trail will be a big hit in the region after hearing from Greenville, S.C. citizens who are excited to bring their bikes and venture beyond the Swamp Rabbit trail in their hometown.</p><p>Extending the Oklawaha, he said, was a top priority for connecting the three parks, and getting the grant to do it was icing on the cake. “It's nice to not lose those funds to the east,” he said. </p><p>Councilman Ron Stephens agreed. He thinks the grant for the trail was “wonderful.. and it's an example of why I am opposed to spending $6 million on the park” through bonds. He added that more grants may be out there to do what the city hopes to do at Berkeley Park, which he said can be revitalized “over a period of time without having to go into debt.”</p><p>Councilman Steve Caraker agreed the city may be able to find more grants to help renovate the park.</p><p>“I'm personally not in favor of the bond issue... I don't think we should incur more debt,” he said.</p><p>Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>